The Roe – Glen Waverley – a sea urchin experience

The Roe Australia, situated in Glen Waverley but tucked away from the bustling centre of activity encompassing the train station, Kingsway, and The Glen Shopping Centre, presents a culinary venture that underwent a rebranding from its previous incarnation as Uni Boom Boom. While the new name adds a touch of elegance, it seems to lose some of the uniqueness that characterised its former identity. Nestled in a seemingly industrialised part of Glen Waverley, The Roe Australia offers on-site parking and occupies a building that carries the architectural remnants of its industrial past.

Upon entering the restaurant, the atmosphere exudes a distinct yet somewhat tacky charm, adorned with faux elegance that includes a sea urchin museum and an abundance of eclectic displays. The interior seems to have embraced a maximalist aesthetic, with an array of items on display that, while intriguing, might border on looking a bit messy and overdone. Despite this, the decor attempts to elevate the ambiance, and the hosts manage to infuse an air of fine dining, though it doesn’t quite ascend to the pinnacle of true sophistication at a fine dining establishment. Nevertheless, the effort is commendable, creating a clean and comfortable atmosphere for patrons.

The Roe Australia’s menu is predominantly focused on sea urchin dishes, complemented by options featuring other seafood, wagyu, or chicken. To set the tone for the meal, a tomato appetizer and non-acholic liquor is generously provided as a welcome gesture.

Opting for the sea urchin donburi set at grade 6A for $70, I was presented with a culinary journey that included a tofu and sea urchin appetizer, miso soup, tea soup, a bowl of rice topped with their signature sea urchin, and a concluding matcha pudding. A small bottle of sea urchin soy sauce adorned the table, offering the option to enhance the donburi with an extra burst of flavour. The sea urchin itself was delightful and worth the try, although my memory harked back to a more exceptional experience at a Japanese restaurant in the Gold Coast.

I tried to order their lower grade sea urchin, but they ran out on the day and had to choose their mid grade sea urchin.

Exploring more options on the menu, we delved into a kids’ meal priced at $20, which proved to be satisfactory overall. However, the meatball accompanying the spaghetti fell short of expectations, leaving room for improvement. Another dish that caught our attention was the deep-fried sea urchin with spicy curry on rice, priced at $20. This particular dish stood out, with the deep-fried sea urchin offering a tasty and unique twist that complemented the spicy curry.

As the culinary experience unfolded, a distinctive choice in music became apparent – the soundscape featured an exclusive selection of Taylor Swift songs throughout. The omnipresence of Taylor Swift’s music, while not necessarily aligned with the expected ambiance of a sea urchin-focused restaurant, added a unique touch to the overall dining atmosphere.

In reflection, The Roe Australia offers a culinary adventure cantered around sea urchin delicacies in a setting that, despite its slightly kitschy interior, manages to convey a sense of upmarket dining. The rebranding from Uni Boom Boom may have altered the restaurant’s character, but it still succeeds in providing a clean and comfortable atmosphere for patrons. While the sea urchin dishes exhibit commendable craftsmanship, there is room for refinement in certain aspects of the menu. The deep-fried sea urchin with spicy curry emerges as a standout choice, demonstrating the potential for inventive and flavourful offerings. The consistent soundtrack of Taylor Swift’s music adds an unexpected and entertaining element to the overall dining experience. As The Roe Australia navigates its culinary journey, there remains the promise of further evolution and refinement in its pursuit of providing a unique and memorable dining experience in the heart of Glen Waverley.

You can read more about the top restaurants in Glen Waverley by reading my article on the top 10 by clicking here.

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